Oil well pump



.im 12, 1932. H, EWATKINS 1,840,646

OIL WELL PUMP Filed May 15. 1928 FEES.- FIE E- f Maxi/W Patented Jan. 12, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAROLD F. WATKINS, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WATKINS INTER- .MITTING PUMP CO., OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OI CALI- FORNIA OIL WELL PUMP Application led' May 15,

This invention relates generally to the construction of oil well pumping apparatus.

It is an object of this invention to'devlse a pumping apparatus having relatively high operating efficiency and which will operate satisfactorily over a wide range of operatinO' conditions.

It is a further object of this invention to devise an `apparatus for effecting pumping 1o of oil by neumatic means which will minimize the ormation of oil emulsions.

It is a further object of this invention to devise an apparatus utilizing pneumatic lifting pistons, which will be relatlvely simple in construction and which will not readily become inoperative by the accumulation of sediment.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which I have set forth the preferred embodiment of my invention. It is to be understood that the appended claims are to be accorded a range of equivalents consistent with the state of the prior art.

Referring to the drawin s:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly in cross section illustrating diagrammatically apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating the apparatus in a diiferent pos1tion to explain the mode of operation.

The apparatus disclosed in this a plication is a simplification of the .pumping evice disclosed in my copending' application No. 207,099 filed July 20, 1927. The pumping apparatus of that application comprises separate oil and gas pipe strings extended into an oil well and communicatin at their lower ends. For controlling both ow of oil from the well into the oil pipe string and for controlling admission of gas to form a pneumatic piston, oil and gas control valves are provided and both of these valves are positively mechanically actuated from the 4surface of the well'. The use of both oil and gas control valves as disclosed in said copending application is desirable in that it practically eliminates formation of oil emulsions and makes possible eiiicient pumping of oil.

1928. Serial No. 278,014.

Under certain operating conditions, as for example where the well contains little water, or where operating eliiciency is not of prime importance, I have found that pneumatic lifting pistons may be formed by the use of a single positively operated valve for controlling the iniiow of oil from the well into the oil pipe string. This simplified apparatus and method of operating the same forms the subject matter of this application.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown a representative oil well 10 in which are extended the pipe strings 11 and 12. These pipe strings are preferably extended one within the other, or in other words they are concentric. The normal oil level of the well ,has been indicated at 13, and the lower ends of both pipes 11 and 12 preferably extend down into the well a substantial distance below this oil level. The lower end of pipe 12 has communication with the pipe 11, as by means of openings 14. The lower portion of pipe 11 below the openin s 14 has communication with the well, as y means of perforations 16.

The valve for controlling flow of oil from the well into pipes 11 and 12 ispreferably positively mechanically actuated from the surface of the'well. I prefer to effect this mechanical actuation by reciprocation of one of the pipes 11 or 12, preferably the inner pipe 12. A suitable form of valve indicated generally at 15 consists of a ball 17 cooperating with a suitable seat 18. A rod 19 projecting from 17 is loosely connected to the lower end of pipe 12 as shown, so that upon lifting of pipe 12 to a certain extent, ball 17 is raised from its seat. While a valve of this type is to be preferred it is to be understood that other forms of valve mechanism may be employed, as for example a sleeve valve.

For reciprocating pipe -12 I have shown the upper end of pi e 12 connected with the end of a walking eam 21 or other ositively oscillated member at the surface o the well. As a suitable means for oscillating walking beam 21, I have shown a crank connection 22 driven by a variable speed motor 23, thru suitable speed reduction gearing 24. It is apparent that by varying the speed of motor '23, the open and'closed periods of the valve may be controlled as desired.

rlhe pipe which is utilized for the introduction of compressed gas into the well, in this instance the pipe 11 is connected at the surface of the Well with a source of gas under pressure, as by means of pipe 26. Introduction of gas into pipe 1l is controlled by means of valve 27, so that intermittent charges of gas are introduced into the well in time with the movements of the valve ball 17. While it is possible to manually operate valve 27 to secure the desired effect, I preferably provide mechanical means for opening and closing the samein synchronism with reciprocating movemens of the pipe l2. For example I have shown diagrammatically an apparatus consisting of a. crank 28 connected to valve 27, and engaging the cam surface of a cam plate 29. Cam plate 29 is shown as adjustably mounted upon a rod 3l, and this rod is reciprocated as by means of a link 32 connecting the same to crank 22. I also prefer to exhaust gas from the pipe 11 while the emission valve 27 is closed and while the valve 15 is open. For this result I provide an exhaust pipe 33 which is controlled by means of valve 34. For mechanically operating valve 34 I have shown a crank'36 engaging the cam plate of a cam 37, this plate being likewise adjustably secured to rod 31.

operating the apparatus described above, cam plates 29 and 37 are adjusted so that when pipe 12 is at the bottom of its stroke, gas admission valve 27 is open and exhaust valve 34 is closed. When pipe 12 is at the upper portion of its stroke admission valve 27 is closed while exhaust valve 34 is open. The stroke of pipe 12 is adjusted so that before admission of high pressure gas thru pipe 26, valve 15 is positively closed, and so .that valve 15 is not opened until admission valve 27 has been closed. Therefore tracing thru one cycle of movement of the pipe 12 as it is reciprocated, as this pipe moves upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1, valve 15 is opened and oil from the well is free to flow into both pipes 11 and 12. At this time the gas pressure in pipe 11 is substantially less than the oil pressure, since exhaust valve 34 is opened. As pipe l2 moves downwardly oil control valve 15 is positively closed and likewise exhaust pipe 33 is closed by valve 34. Further downward movement of pipe 12 to complete a stroke causes opening of valve 27 to admit high pressure gas into pipe 11. The high pressure as immediately forces down the oil levelV 1n pipe 11 and the oil is forced to flow upwardl in pipe 12. When the oil level in pipe 11 fa s below the openings 14, gas is blown into the lower portion of pipe 12 forming a neumatic piston which expands upwardly to drive out the oil column above it. When a substantial upwardly expanding pneumatic pisLon has been formed in pipe 12, valve 27 is again closed by the return movement of pipe 12, valve l5 is opened and exhaust Valve 34 opened to reduce the gas pressure in pipe 11. Oil from the well again Hows-into pipe 11 and upon the next cycle is forced into pipe 12.

One of the important features of this invention is the posi.ive operation of the oil control valve 15 from the surface of the Well. Such positive operation not only renders the apparatus immune from diiiiculty due to the formation of deposits and sediment, but makes it possible to accurately time movements of valve 15 according to the depth and other conditions surrounding operation of a particular well. l have found that if it is attempted to operate valve 15 by automatic means, as by the pressure of oil or gas within the well, the timing of valve 15 will not be correct for optimum operation, and will not be suiiiciently positive to make the device reliable. It is to be noted that in my apparatus intermittent charges of gas may be accurately timed in synchronism with openinfr and closing movements of valve 15. Furthermore this timing may be independent of all operating conditions as for example the pressure of gas being introduced or the pressure of oil within the well, so that pumping may be carried out in such a manner as to secure the utmost advantage from the use of upwardly expanding pneumatic pistons. Where there is a relatively heavy How of oil into the well, the height of pipe l2 can be adjusted so that-the time during which valve l5 is closed may be made relatively longer, and the valve actuating mechanism at the surface of the well can be timed so that a relatively larger amount of compressed gas is introduced into the well. Correspondingly if flow of oil into the well is relatively light, the timing of operations may be made correspondingly slower, the time during which valve`15 is open may be made correspondingly longer and proportionally less compressed gas may be introduced thru pipe 26. The quantity of gas introduced thru pipe 26 is independent of gas pressures and can be varried by adjusting the mechanical movements of valve 27.

I claim:

1. In an oil well pump, oiland gas pipe strings extending into the Well, said gas pipe communicating with the oil pipe below the normal level of the oil in the well, a valve within the well serving to control iow of oil the gas pipe from the surface of the well in time with said cyclic movements, each charge being introduced while said valve is closed to :torm an upwardly expanding pneumatic piston in the oil pipe.

2. In an oil well pump, concentric oil and gas pipe lines extending into the well, said gas pipe communicating with the oil pipe below the normal level of oil within the well, mechanical means located at the surfaceof the well for -cyclically reciprocating one of said pipes, valve means within the well serving to control iliow of oil from the well into said pipes, said valve being positively opened and closed by reciprocating movement of said one pipe, means functioning automatically upon cyclic movement of said one pipe for intermittently introducing charges' of gas into the gas pipe from the surface of the well, said gas being introduced during the interval that said valve is closed, and means functioning automatically upon reciprocation of said one pipe for intermittently exhausting gas from the upper portion of the gas pipe, saidexhausting of gas occurring during the interval that said valve is open.

3. ln an oil well pump, oil and gas pipe strings extending into the well, said gas pipe communicating with the oil pipe below the normal level of the oil in the well,avalve within the well serving to control iiow of oil rom the well into the gas pipe, motion applying mechanism located at the surface of the well for cyclically opening and closing said valve, and means actuated by said motion applying mechanism for intermittently introducing charges of gas into the gas pipe in time wit opening and closing movements of said valve, said introduction of each charge of gas 0ccurring when said valve is closed to form an upwardly expanding piston in the oil pipe.

4. ln an oil well pump, oil and gas pipe lines extending into the well, said gas pipe communicating with the oil pipe below the normal level of oil within the well, a valve within the well serving to control flow of oil from the well into said pipes, actuating mechanism located at the surface of the well for cyclically opening and closing said valve, means motivated by said actuating mechanism for intermittently introducing chargesof gas into the gas pipe in time with opening and closing movements of said valve, said introduction of each charge of gas occurring when said valve is closed to form an upwardly expanding piston in the oil pipe, and means also motivated by said actuated mechanism for intermittently exhausting gas from said gas pipe, said exhausting of gas occurring when said valve is open. f'

5. ln an oil wellv pump, oil and gas pipe strings extending into the well, said gas pipe communicating with the oil pipe below the normal level of the oil in the well, a valve within the well serving to control ow of oil from the well into the gas pipe, motion applying mechanism located at the surface of the well for cyclically opening and closing said valve, and means for forming upwardly expanding pneumatic pistons in the oil pipe, said means including means actuated by said motion applying mechanism for intermit tently introducing charges of compressed gas into the gas pipe '1n time with openin and closing movements of said valve, said lntroduction of each charge of gas occurrinor when the valve is closed to form an upwardly expanding piston in the oil.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

HAROLD F. WATKINS. 

